Tool handle



y 1942. s'. MANDL 2,282,148

TOOL HANDLE I Original Filed Jan. 18, 1940 INVENTOR JWW T ORNEY.

Patented May 5, 1942 TOOL HANDLE Siegmund Mandl, Milwaukee, Wis, assignor to Blackhawk Mfg. (30., Milwaukee, Wis, a corporation of Wisconsin Original application January 18, 1940, Serial No.

314,435. Divided and this application November 8, 1940, Serial No. 364,889

19 filaims.

The present invention relates generally to im-- provements in the construction and operation of tool handles for wrenches or the like, and the present application is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 314,435, filed January 18, 1940.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and useful handle structure for tools or the like, which will enable most effective actuation and use of the tool.

A more specific object of my present invention is to provide an improved handle assemblage for oscillatory or rotary tools such as wrenches or ratchets, Which can be readily adjusted to vary the effective length of the actuating lever.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide an improved tool handle of the lever type, which can be quickly and effectively lengthened or shortened to vary the stroke or leverage, and to provide a compact assemblage for shipment.

These and other specific objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of an embodiment of my present invention, and of the mode of constructing and of utilizing tool handles built in accordance with the improvement, may be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification, wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. 1 is a part sectional side elevation of a ratchet wrench, showing one of the improved handles applied thereto and extended to maximum length;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the ratchet wrench, showing the handle reversed to provide an actuating lever of minimum length;

Fig. 3 is a part sectional side view of the reversible handle alone; and

Fig. 4 is an end view of the handle alone.

While the improved handle assemblage has been shown and described herein as being especially adapted for use in connection with oscillatory ratchet wrenches or mechanisms, it is not my desire or intent to thereby unnecessarily restrict the scope or utility of the invention which is more generally applicable to various tools.

Referring to the drawing, the improved tool shown therein by way of illustration, comprises a wrench head 6 having therein ratchet mechanism I and being provided with an integral actuating arm or lever 8 having a tapered portion 9 and a screw threaded extreme end portion Ill; and a reversible tubular handle II having a long socket i2 and a short socket I3, both provided with adjacent tapered ends I4 separated by an internally threaded flange 'or part I5.

The wrench socket or head 6 maybe formed for the reception of elements other than the ratchet mechanism I, and may even be formed for direct coaction with a nut or bolt head; and the lever arm 8 need not be formed in one with the head 6 but may be otherwiseassociated therewith. The portion of the arm 8 adjoining the tapered part 9, is preferably cylindrical and formed to snugly coast with either of the handle sockets I2, I3; and when the handle part I5 and socket I3 are applied to the arm portions 9, ID as in Fig. 1, the handle I I is disposed at considerably greater distance from the axis of the head 6, than when the handle part I5 and socket I2 are applied to the lever portions 9, I0 as in Fig. 2. This variation in the eifective length of the tool actuating lever, may be quickly and conveniently eifected with the aid of the threaded portions Ill, I5; and the tapered portions 9, I4 of the arm 8 and handle II respectively, provide for firm attachment and prevent undesirable play or looseness between the parts; The exterior of the tubular handle H may also be provided with longitudinal serrations it as shown in Figsp3 and 4 in order to enhance the grip.

During normal use of the improved tool, the handle II may be applied to the actuating arm 8 either as shown in Fig. 1 to provide long leverage, or as illustrated in Fig. 2, to provide shorter leverage; and since the latter assemblage is more compact it is preferable to utilize the same for storage and packing. The ratchet mechanism I may then be properly adjusted and associated with the work, in a well known manner; and reversal of the handle I I to change the leverage from long to short, and vice versa, may be quickly accomplished with the aid of the coacting threaded portions I9, I5. The serrations I6 facilitate manipulation of the tool during normal use, and also aid in driving the tapered bored portions I4 of the handle I I upon the externally tapered portion 9 of the arm 3; while the snug engagement between the bored sockets I2, I3 and the cylindrical portion of the arm 8 insures maximum rigidity in the structure.

From the foregoing detailed description it should be apparent that my present invention provides a simple, compact, durable and highly efficient reversible handle assemblage for various types of oscillatory or rotary tools, the effective length of which may be quickly varied to suit different conditions of use. This variation in leverage obviously permits considerable variation in the force which may be applied, and in the speed with which the tool may be operated or manipulated; and also permits most compact packaging of the tool assembly. The invention has proven highly desirable and successful in actual commercial use, and may obviously be embodied in tools of various types at moderate cost.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of use, herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In combination, a tool having a head and a rigid actuating arm provided with a taper remote from said head, and a tubular handle having alined similarly tapered sockets of diiferent depth reversibly associable with the end of said arm remote from said head to vary the effective length of the arm.

2. In combination, a tool having a head and an integral actuating arm of fixed length pro,-

vided with a taper remote from said head, the

end of said arm beyond said taper having external screw threads, and a hollow handle having opposite alined similarly tapered sockets of different depth and a threaded intervening portion cooperable with said arm taper and threads.

3. In combination, a tool having a head and an integral actuating arm provided with a taper and screw threads remote from said head, and

a handle having alined sockets of different depths interchangeably cooperable .with said arm and taper, said handle having an internally threaded portion cooperable with said arm threads.

4. In combination, a tool having a head and a solid cylindrical arm extending away from said head and provided with a threaded free end, and a tubular, handle having opposite cylindrical sockets of different depth adapted to inter- .changeablysnugly receive said cylindrical arm end, said handle being provided with internal threads disposed between said sockets and -coop-.

erable with said arm threads. 7 l 5. In combination, a tool having an actuating arm provided at its free end with a taper and a screw thread adjacent to the taper, and a tubular handle having oppositely directed tapered sockets interchangeably snugly cooperable with said arm taper and also having an internally threaded portion cooperable with said arm threads.

6. In combination, a tool having an actuating arm provided at its free end with a taper and a screw thread adjacent to the taper, and a tubular handle having oppositely directed tapered sockets interchangeably snugly cooperable with said arm taper and also having an internally threaded portion cooperable with said arm threads, said handle sockets being of different depths.

7. In combination, a tool having an actuating arm provided at its free end with a taper and a screw thread adjacent to the taper, and a tubular handle having oppositely directed tapered sockets interchangeably snugly cooperable with said arm taper and also having an internally threaded portion cooperable with said arm threads, said handle sockets being alined with each other and with said arm and also being of different depths.

8. In combination, a tool having an actuating arm provided at its free end with screw threads and with adjoining tapered and cylindrical portions, and a handle having alined cylindrical and tapered sockets of difierent depth interchangeably snugly cooperable with said arm end and also being threaded for coaction with said arm threads.

9. In combination, a tool having ahead and a rigid actuating arm provided with a taper and fastening means adjacent to the taper, and'a handle having alined sockets of difierent depth interchangeably cooperable with said arm taper, said handle having complementary fastening means cooperable with said fastening means on said arm.

10. In combination, a tool having, a head and a rigid actuating arm provided with a taper, and

a handle having alined oppositely directed sock-' ets of different depths, said handle sockets each having a tapered portion interchangeably cooperable with said arm taper to provide a composite arm of different efiective lengths.

SIEGMUND MANDL. 

